Creation of South Punjab province seems a distant dream

PM directs Executive Council to take practical steps to resolve issue

DERA GHAZI KHAN:  

 

Ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf had announced to make South Punjab a separate province within the first hundred days of holding government office but so far, no Constitutional amendment has been made and practical measures have not been taken in this regard. The people of the region have high hopes that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government will make their dream come true.

The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had promised to establish South Punjab province during their respective tenures but both parties failed to implement their resolve. Later, Tahir Bashir Cheema established South Punjab Province Mahaz and ran the campaign before the general elections of 2018.

During the campaign, PTI chairman Imran Khan announced that the province of South Punjab will be established within the first 100 days of his government. After a written agreement, South Punjab Province Mahaz merged with PTI and participated in the elections on a PTI ticket.

After the polls, PTI won more than 50 provincial and 29 National Assembly seats in southern Punjab and become a representative majority party of the region. But despite completing 100 days, the ruling PTI failed to present a Constitutional draft in the National Assembly for the formation of South Punjab province.

However, the prime minister formed an Executive Council for the purpose.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, Executive Council Member Dr Mina Ahsan Laghari said that in order to establish the South Punjab province, the PTI has set up a committee while an office has also been provided at chief minister’s secretariat. She added, “Five meetings have been held by the committee members over the matter.”

She maintained that Constitutional measures, establishment of the province and other issues have been discussed in the meetings.

She said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the committee to take practical measures to resolve the issue.

Mina Laghari pointed out, “It is a huge task and meetings have been held with the secretaries of related departments, including revenue, finance, water resources, education and legal departments.”

She mentioned that Punjab Chief Minister Usman Bazdar, during his visit to Dera Ghazi Khan on November 17, said the prime minister will soon announce establishment of a separate South Punjab province. “We are negotiating with all the stakeholders on different issues for the creation of a separate province,” she revealed.
When contacted, former federal minister and MPA Sardar Owais Ahmed Khan Laghari told The Express Tribune that so far, Prime Minister Imran Khan has not succeeded in fulfilling his promises. Even, the PTI has failed to run the government smoothly, he remarked.

“PTI is a U-turn party and they can step back from its promises. Hundred days have been completed yet so far their ministers did not raise the issue of South Punjab province in any assembly,” Laghari mentioned.

Similarly, Khawaja Ghulam Farid, head of the Saraikistan Qaumi Ittehad, said that the present government has completed its hundred days and they should fulfill their promise. He added, “Balanced federation is a symbol of strong Pakistan. The leadership of South Punjab Province Mahaz is also silent over the matter as they had been awarded ministries.”

Ghulam Farid said, “If prime minister wants political stability in the country, then the province of Siraikistan should be established.”